Process of working with hydrogen under pressure.



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CARL BOSCH, OF LUDWIGSHAFEN-ON-THE-BHINE,' GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO BADISCHE ANILIN & SODA FABRIK, OF LUDVIIGSHAFEN-ON lHE-RHINE, GERMANY, A COR- PI'ORATION.

PROCESS OF WORKING WITH HYDROGEN UNDER PRESSURE.

N 0 Drawing.

Specification of Letters Patent.

they are not able to withstand the high pres sure employed.

In my application for patent Serial No.

675,618 I have described an apparatus for working with hydrogen under pressure and at high temperatures, comprising an inner vessel which is of itself: incapable of. permanently withstanding the pressure employed, and means for supporting the said vessel to enable it to withstand the pressure,

which means are not capable of retaining gas under pressure. I have now discovered'that the said difliculty can be overcome in another way which can be used either byitself or in combination with the apparatus referred to. I have found that the detrimental action of hydrogen under pressure on iron heated tubes or vessels ceases below a temperature not essentially higher than 450 C. In the process according to the present invention therefore I take care that the iron wall which has to sustain the pressure and which is heated is maintained at a temperature essentially between 100 and 450 (1, and it is in .general advantageous for the purpose of economizingfheat that the temperature of this wall sustaining the pressure should be kept, for instance, between 300 and 400 C.

The process of my invention is of'particular importance in the catalytic production of ammonia from its elements, for instance when employing a .ferruginous catalytic agent at a temperature above 500 0., for

since'it is only necessary to arrange/for the removal of heat to. such an extent that the oute'ii wall does not have a temperature exand 450 ceeding 450 (1., it is readily pomible to work without the introduction of outside heat in any way, simply using the heat of reaction to maintain the temperature of the catalytic material.

When carrying out my present invention, it is possible to employ any sort of iron which possesses the requisite mechanical Patented Oct. 28, 1913. Application filed April 18, 1912. Serial No. 691,731.

solidity, for instance the iron may be rich or poor in carbon, or may contain no carbon at all, like, for instance, the material known as Edel st hl.

Inthis application I do not claim the use i of pressures of less than 5 atmospheres.

Now what I claim is 1. The process of working with hydrogen at a temperature exceeding 450 C. and un-.

der a pressure exceeding five atmospheres, which consists in passing the hydrogen under pressure through a hot iron tube or vessel, but maintaining the temperature ,of the wall sustaining the pressure, at essentially between 100 and 450 C.

2. The process of working with hydrogen at a temperature exceeding 450 C. and under a pressure exceeding 5 atmospheres, which consists'in passing the hydrogen under pressure through a hot iron tube or vessel containing contact material, but maintaining the temperature of the wallsustaining the pis'sure, at essentially between 100 3. The process of producing ammonia by passing hydrogen and nitrogen at a pressure exceeding 5 atmospheres through an iron tube or vessel containing contact material at a temperature exceeding 450 0., while maintaining the temperature of the wall sustaining the pressure, at essentially between 100 and 450 C.

4. The process of producing ammonia by passing hydrogen and nitrogen at a pressure exceeding .5 atmospheres through an iron tube or vessel cdntaining terruginous contact agent ata temperature exceeding 450 0., whilemaintaining the temperature of the wall sustaining the pressure, at essentially between 100 and 450 C.

5. The process of producing ammonia by passing hydrogen and nitrogen under a pressure exoeeding 5 atmospheres through a, my hand in thepresence of two subscribing hot iron tube or vessel containing a ferruggi- Witnesses. nous Contact agent ata temperature eKcee ing 500 (1, While maintaining the tempers- CARL BQSOH' 5 mm of the Wall sustaining .the pressure, at Witnesses:

between 200 and 400 C. ERNEST F. EHRHARDT,

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set Joe. Prmmn. 

